Melissa Kite is the Deputy Political Editor of The Sunday Telegraph and writes a weekly column for The Spectator magazine. She divides her time between South London and Surrey where she rides her horses.

George Osborne snaps at Darling's ankles

Are you enjoying the new George Osborne? What a transformation. From slightly squeaky Tory boy to slightly squeaky Tory attack dog in one giant leap. His savaging of Alistair Darling on the BBC Daily Politics Chancellors' debate was quite something to watch.

“Ken Clarke was a damned sight more successful Chancellor than you!” he sort of yelped at the old badger who had come out of his hidey hole to taunt him.

“I’m not going to take any advice from a Labour politician…you wrecked the economy,” he woofed, as the badger blinked languidly in the TV lights.

“When are you going to listen to Marks and Spencer’s and Mothercare and Boots?” he almost snarled.

It wasn’t exactly scary, but it was certainly energetic and full of heart. Okay, so we’re not really talking about a Doberman or a Mastiff, so much as a snappy little Jack Russell. But they can be pretty lethal.